Whether disgracing or dismissing old officers, men of family, men of property, in order to make way for the promotion of boys, slaves, and beggars, would not be such a garbling of the Army, as might furnish very melancholy apprehensions of its destination?
Whether such terrifying dispositions ought not to alarm a free people; and might not with too much reason induce them to apprehend, that the time was approaching when some important blow was to be struck?
Whether, if a younger son of the Crown should ever be invested with absolute power over such an Army; and, at the same time, by a factious connexion, make himself master of the Fleet, our lives and fortunes might not be dependent on his will and pleasure, and the Right of Succession have no other security than his want of ambition?
Whether adding to this dangerous degree of power the sole direction of affairs in the Cabinet likewise, might not give him such a dictatorial authority as would enable him to expel from his father’s Council and person every moderate Minister, true Englishman, and old servant of the Crown, who, though perhaps unable to prevent, might in some measure delay, the execution of his designs?
Whether, during the time of peace, experiment has not been actually made in one part of this country (now under the cloud of prejudice) how far an army may be depended on in usurping a dominion over law?
Whether, if in any country express and positive orders should be generally and circularly given by authority to the troops to execute the law, to seize and imprison the persons of the subjects, upon such information as they should think sufficient, without the concurrence of the civil power, such country might not be deemed under a direct military government in its rankest form?
Whether a successful attempt in one part of a country would not furnish sanguine hopes of reducing the remaining part to the like unconstitutional dominion?
Whether the omnipotence of a commander, joined with the faction, stupidity, and corruption of the times, might not be able to stifle and baffle all regular proof of such notorious acts of arbitrary and tremendous power?
Whether it might not be prudent to reflect on the fatal instances of John of Lancaster and crook-backed Richard?